End-of-Life Care Series (3 Modules)

End-of-Life Module 1: Ethics and end of life

End-of-life care is fraught with ethical challenges for patients, families, and physicians. Physicians who care for patients at the end of life need to be familiar with the ethical frameworks commonly used to work through these challenges.

In this module, we describe the principle-based approach to medical ethics as well as the complementary frameworks. We also explain core ethical concepts specific to decision-making at the end of life and highlight special considerations in the care of patients from marginalized groups.

Learning Objectives

Recognize how an inadequate understanding of the patient and family experience may cause physicians to miss important ethical obligations.

Apply the four principles of biomedical ethics most commonly used to identify ethical obligations and help resolve ethical dilemmas in health care.

Identify limitations of the principle-based approach to medical ethics and recognize situations in which principles alone miss some ethical obligations.

Boston Medical Center Michael A. Grodin, M.D.
Department of Health Law, Bioethics & Human Rights, Boston University School of Public Health
Departments of Psychiatry and Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine

Course Fees

MMS Member Physicians: $12

Nonmember Physicians: $22

Allied Health Professionals: $9.60

Format: Text & Graphics

CME Credit: 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, risk management study

This activity meets the criteria of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine for risk management credit, including 1.0 credit in end-of-life care.

The Massachusetts Medical Society designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The Massachusetts Medical Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

A score of 70% or higher is required to receive AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

End-of-Life Module 2: Communication and conflict

Physicians can improve end-of-life care by ensuring that communication with patients and their families is a top priority. Poor communication among physicians, patients, and families unfortunately is common and can lead to discord and dissatisfaction with care at the end-of-life.

When conflict arises over end-of-life care, physicians with a working knowledge of ethics and skill in facilitating difficult conversations can help everyone involved in the patient's care reach consensus. In this module, we describe strategies and techniques for developing effective communication skills about the end of life that can be used in practice.

Learning Objectives

Identify common barriers to communication among the patient, family, and medical team about end-of-life care and develop strategies to overcome them.

Develop a process-based approach to helping the patient and family work through ethical dilemmas at the end of life.

Develop a strategy for resolving a common conflict in end-of-life care: disagreement between the family and medical team about life-sustaining treatment for an incapacitated patient.

Boston Medical Center Michael A. Grodin, M.D.
Department of Health Law, Bioethics & Human Rights, Boston University School of Public Health
Departments of Psychiatry and Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine

Course Fees

MMS Member Physicians: $12

Nonmember Physicians: $22

Allied Health Professionals: $9.60

Format: Text & Graphics

CME Credit: 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, risk management study

This activity meets the criteria of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine for risk management credit, including 1.0 credit in end-of-life care.

The Massachusetts Medical Society designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The Massachusetts Medical Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

End-of-Life Module 3: Advance Care Planning

Advance care planning is important for all patients. Physicians have an ethical obligation to help patients consider their wishes about care at the end of life, including which life-sustaining treatments they are likely to want if they become severely ill and unable to speak for themselves.

In this module, we describe advance directives in detail and explore case-based scenarios involving the decision-making process at the end-of-life.

Boston Medical Center Michael A. Grodin, M.D.
Department of Health Law, Bioethics & Human Rights, Boston University School of Public Health
Departments of Psychiatry and Family Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine

Course Fees

MMS Member Physicians: $12

Nonmember Physicians: $22

Allied Health Professionals: $9.60

Format: Text & Graphics

CME Credit: 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, risk management study

This activity meets the criteria of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine for risk management credit, including 1.0 credit in end-of-life care.

The Massachusetts Medical Society designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The Massachusetts Medical Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.